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Tag: Friendships

Missy and her family are visiting from Virginia. They came up for a wedding, and will be staying through the weekend so Jimmy can celebrate his fourth birthday with us. Missy, John and Jack will leave on Sunday, but Jimmy will stay for about a week. I’m very excited but – as to be expected – I’ve been distracted from writing. Simultaneously, I’ve been inspired by the film “Fright Night,” starring Anton Yelchin and Colin Farrell. You’ve been given fair warning: the following probably sucks, as I’m trying something new without giving it my best effort.

Good luck.

PROMPT: “You know, they invented a word for guys like him.”

PIECE:

“You know, they invented a word for guys like him.”

Cheyenne sighed and ran her hands along her wearied face. She was definitely too young to feel so fucking old. Maybe Marley was right and it was all part of the territory, but Marley being right was the worst thing in the whole entire world – she’d be wildly obnoxious about it. “I get it, Marley. We’ve had this conversation a million and one times – you’re not telling me anything new, or anything that I don’t already know. So essentially, you’re not being helpful and unless you’re going to help, shut up.”

Marley bit the insides of her cheeks to keep quiet and crossed her thin arms over her chest. Cheyenne had insulted her – best friend or not – so Marley would let Cheyenne turn the whole place upside down on her own. Why would she help a bitch on a wild goose chase? She wasn’t dating a monster. She raised an eyebrow and watched Cheyenne derisively as she wrenched open cabinets and pulled out drawers, letting their contents clatter to the floor. “What are you even looking for?”

“I’ve already told you,” Cheyenne answered sharply. “He needs a medallion about the size of an old subway token. It has a bat on it, and he needs it tonight because the main guy is coming for it.”

Marley’s mouth dropped open. “Are you saying there are more coming here tonight?” Cheyenne did not answer, but she did considerably slow her frantic searching. “Oh, fuck that!” Marley erupted. “It could be a bloodbath! He’s putting all of us in some serious danger! They could kill us all!”

Cheyenne turned slowly to face Marley. Her clenched fists and deep breathing showed that she was battling a swelling rage. “James wouldn’t do that, Marley. He would never –“

“What happened to Sam?” Marley asked, interrupted. Both young women knew exactly what had happened to Sam – he had been killed – murdered – about a month ago. There had been a severe misunderstanding about Sam’s intentions towards Cheyenne and how those intentions affected both his attitudes and actions towards James. In essence, James was convinced that Sam was coming for him, so he struck first and even though Sam had been brave and fought long and hard to defend himself, it had all been for naught. “Please, Cheyenne, let’s end this! I know he’s one thing to you, but to everyone he’s not trying to fuck, he’s something else.”

Cheyenne wiped her eyes. “It’s not just that, Marley. You know it’s not so vulgar. We love each other.”

“He can’t love you or anyone, Cheyenne. He’s a monster, a literal living and breathing monster.”

“Marley –“

“There’s a word for guys like him, Cheyenne. There’s a word for draining the life from someone and not feeling an ounce of remorse, rationalizing murder because it’s necessary for existence. If he were human, he’d be a sociopath, but he’s not human, is he?”

“No,” Cheyenne barely whispered.

“So what’s the word I’m thinking of? You need to hear yourself say it. You need to come to grips with reality.”